Collapsible sunshade



July 18, 1939. F. DEAK '2,166,625

COLLAPSIBLE SUNSHADE Filed March 28, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 18, 1939. F DEAK I COLLAPSIBLE SUNSHADE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 28, 1939 i5 ATTORNEY,

Patented July 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

rThis invention relates to sun shades and has for its main object to provide a device of this character which will be adapted to be collapsed and folded into a small compact form and stored or transported in such form and again set up at any place desired in an efficient, quick and easy manner.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device as characterized hereinbefore, in which the sun shade portion proper may be adjusted to a desired position, del-ined by the Dosition of the sun, its adjustment easily changed, and which will still be automatically secured in its adjusted position in a simple and eicient manner.

Still other objects of this invention will be apparent as the specification of the same proceeds.

In the drawings, forming a part of this application and accompanying the same:

. Fig. l is a perspective view of my novel collapsible and adjustable sun shade, set up in one position of its use;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of an adjustable hinge used in my device, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation thereof, the section being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 indicates an intermediate step in the folding of my device;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of one form of a cover which may be used with my adjustable sun shade;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of my device in its completely collapsed and folded position, and

Fig. 7 is another side elevation thereof, taken at right angles to the elevation of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail showing the adjustable automatic frictional pivot and hinge used in my device, the section being taken on line 8 8 in Fig. 7, and

Fig. 9 is another sectional elevation of said hinge, the section being taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a perspective fragmentary detail, showing the braces used with my sun shade in a released open position. v

Referring now to the drawings more in detail by characters of reference, the numeral 2U indicates my sun shade device in general being composed of two leg portions, 2| and 22, and a sun shade portion or frame, proper 23.

The leg portion 2| is composed of three members or sections being an upper section 24, an y intermediate section 25 and a lower section 26.

The leg 22 is composed of similar sections 2l, 28 and 29.

Sun shade proper 23 is composed of two front side members 30 and 3|, two rear side members 32 and 33, a front foldable brace 34 and a rear foldable brace 35, said braces being pivotally secured in the respective front and rear side members, the side members 36 and 32 being secured to one another by a hinge device generally indicated by the numeral 36, and the side members 3| and 33 being secured to one another by a hinge generally indicated by the numeral 31.

The upper section 24 of the right hand leg 2| is secured to the right hand rear sun shade side member 32 by a frictional adjustable pivot and hinge device generally indicated by the numeral 33 and similarly, the upper section 21 of the left hand leg 22 is secured into the left hand rear side member 33 of the sun shade proper by a. frictional adjustable pivot and hinge genf erally indicated by the numeral 39.

A pivot pin 4i] connects the upper end of the middle section 25'and the lower end of the upper section 24 in leg 2|-, and a similar pivot pin 4| is arranged between the middle section 25 and the lower section 26.

The construction in this respect of the left hand leg 22 is entirely similar.

A brace 42 is arranged between the middle section and the lower section of each leg, said brace being composed of an upper member i3 preferably made of a strip of metal and a lower member 44 of similar material, the two being pivotedly connected as at 45.

The upper member 43 is pivotedly connected to the middle section of the respective leg as indicated at 46 and the lower section may have a hook shaped free end 41 by which it may releasably be hooked into an appropriate pin l5 on the inner side of the respective lower leg section. The upper end of each lower member 44 is formed into a pin 49, by which it may engage a hole 50 in the upper member 43 when the brace is in its operative position.

The construction of the right hand hinge 36 between the front and rear sun shade members 36 and 32 is best shown in the perspective of Fig. 2, and it will be seen that said hinge device is formed of three members, a front member 5|, a rear member 52, and an intermediate b member 53, the two respective members being connected by the hinge sleeves and pins 54 and 55, as will be understood. The front member 5| of the hinge 36 is secured on the front side member 30 of the sun shade and the rear hinge member 52 is secured on the rear side member 32, the intermediate member 53 being free from each of such members and being only hingedly connected to the other two members of the hinge device, as indicated at 54 and 55.

rIhe arrangement of the adjustable automatic friction hinge and pivot device 38 between the upper leg section 24 and the rear sun shade side member 32 is best shown in Figs. 2, 3, 8 and 9.

As shown in said figures a U shaped metal member 58 is straddling the upper sun shade meinber 32, but partly sunk into its material. The outer surface of said U shaped metal member 56 shows a circular boss 57 having radial teeth 58 of generally triangular cross sections.

A somewhat similar U shaped second metal member 59 is straddling the upper end of the leg member 24, having a similar circular boss 33 with radial teeth engaging the teeth in the boss 5l'.

The metal member 59 has a plate extension 5l and it is not directly secured to the upper leg section 24.

Another smaller metal plate E2 is secured on said leg 24 as by a comparatively heavy pin 63, and a hinge device 64 connects the plates 6I and 62. It is to be understood that the upper leg section 24 is pivoted on the pin 53, so that it may be rocked in relation to the second plate '62 and, of course, may be hingedly rocked with said second plate, with relation to the iii-st plate 6l, on the hinge 64. Angularly bent metal hook E5 is also secured on the rear of the plate 6i, as shown in Fig. 2, by the hinge 56 on the rear edge of said plate.

The construction of the other automatic frictional hinge and pivot device 39 between the upper sections 2l of the left side leg and the respective l'ear side member 33 of the sun shade proper is entirely identical to the construction of the hinge and pivot 38 just described.

The hinge device 3l between the left hand front side member 3! of the sun shade proper and the rear member 33 is somewhat different from the hinge 3S for the right hand side of my device, described hereinbefore.

The said left hand hinge 3T is a simple hinge between the two members, having a front plate 6l' secured on the member 3i, a rear plate 68 secured on the member 33, and hinge sleeve and hinge pin 69 between the two, as will be obvious from the perspective of Fig. l.

The brace members 34 and 35 for the sun shade proper are of identical construction and each is composed of a right hand member and a left hand member 'H of appropriate thin,` but rigid strips of metal. The two metal strips are interconnected by a pivot pin 'i2 and are secured to the respective side members by pivot pins 'i3 and i4, respectively.

The use and operation of my collapsible and adjustable sun shade will be obvious from the herein description and by inspecting the drawlngsl I, however, desire to oifer the following more detailed explanation thereof:

Normally, my device is set into the position shown in Fig. 1 in which the upper and middle leg sections 24 and 25, and 2 and 28, respectively, are set in one line perpendicularly to the side members of the sun shade or frame proper 23. The upper end 24a of the upper leg member 24 is set between two projections 74 on the U-shaped metal member 53 of the frictional hinge and pivot device 3B, and in this manner, it is kept in the perpendicular position with relation to the side member 32 (Figs. I and 2). To secure the member 24 in this position, the hinged metal hook G5 is closed thereover.

in the view of Fig. l, the lowermost leg sections 26 and 23 arc set perpendicularly to the middle sections 25 and 23, respectively, by rocking them around their pivot pins 4I and then they are secured in such a position by the braces 42, as will be obvious.

The side frame members 38 and 32, and 3| and 33, respectively, of the sun shade proper 23 are also set in aligmnent with each other and their braces 34 and 35 are fully open, so as to form an upper sun shade frame resting on the legs 2l and 22, as shown in Fig. l..

The construction of the identical hinge and pivot devices 33 and 39, is suoli that the whole upper sun shade frame 23 may be turned with relation to the legs 2i and 22 as indicated by the arrows 'I5 and i6 to set the sun shade proper' at a desired angle, and, while said pivots 38 and 33 will permit such a rotation, the teeth 53 of the two metal bosses 63 and 6l riding on one another, automatic means are provided in said pivots to secure the sun shade in its adjusted position. The construction of said pivots 38 and 39 will be more fully described hereinafter.

ln the position of Fig. l, my collapsible sun shade is illustrated as set on the ground Without any securing means other than the bases provided by the lower leg sections 26 and 29. In this position, my device may be used on hard ground, like a lawn, at a picnic, and the like. When it is desired to use it on a softer ground or sand, like on the beach, the braces 42 between the lower and middle leg sections will be released by pushing the upper end of the lower members of said brace outwardly, releasing the pins 59 from the holes 53 by the resilient action of the material, and thereupon turning the upper and lower sections of said braces 42 relative to one another, as illustrated in Fig. l0, and unhooking the lower ends 47 from the pins 48. The lower sections 26 and 29 of the respective legs will thus be freed, and may be set in alignment with the rest of the sections of the legs turning them around their pivots 4l, as indicated by the dot vand dash line position of the lower leg section 2S in Fig. l. in this position, the two legs may be pushed or thrust into the ground, like into the sand on the beach, until the legs are sumciently secured to support the sun shade proper and to permit its adjusting with relation to their angles.

It will be understood that any appropriate fabric covering, like canvas, may be secured on and across the two side members of the sun shade proper 23 as indicated at ll. Such cover may be removed when it is desired to collapse or fold my device, and again added on the device after the same has been set up. Such a construction is illustrated in Figs. l and 5, wherein the covering Tl may have snap fasteners 18 by which it may be secured on appropriate receiving means 'I3 at the respective places on the side members of the sun shade proper.

The construction of the yielding self-locking frictional adjustable pivots 3S and 39 is best illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 8 and 9 and as will be seen from the same, the metal U shaped member 56 is secured on the respective side member 32 by simply embracing the same, and its boss 57 and radial teeth 58 are engaging the circular boss 6@ on the other metal member 59 of said adjustable frictional joint or pivot 38.

As has been mentioned hereinbefore, the second metal member 59 embraces the upper leg portion 24 by its side projections 14 only when the upper end 24a. of said member 24 is set between said projection 14 (Fig. 2), and the purpose of the hook 65 is to secure the leg member 24 in this position (Figs. 1 and 2). The side member 32 has a bore 18a underneath the boss 51 of the metal member 56 thereon,and a pin 15a is arranged in said hole or bore 18, said pin passing through an intact portion 32a of the member 32 and through the metal member 51, then being secured into the other metal meinber 59 and is rotatable therewith.

Pin 19a has a head 80, and a resilient member 8| is interposed between the portion 32a and said head 80.

It will be obvious that when the two metal members 56 and 59 are forced to rotate in relation to one another, as when adjusting the parts to which they are secured, or folding them alongside one another, teeth 58 will ride over one another, at such riding the resilient member 8| permitting a slight movement of the metal member 53, away from the member 56, and when the parts have been adjusted, the resilient member 8| will draw the two metal members 56 and 59 closely together, their teeth 58 mutually resting in the valleys or depressions of the other member.

As has been` mentioned hereinbefore, my device is adapted to be folded into a small compact form when out of use for storage or transportation.

The folding thereof may be done in a very simple manner expeditiously and easily by anybody even without instructions or after the same has once been shown to the person.

For this purpose, as one method of its folding, the left hand sectional leg 2| will be folded up by rst releasing its brace 42 then folding said brace upwardly along and on the outside of the middle section 25, then folding thereover on the outside and along the said middle section 25 the lowermost section 26 as indicated by the arrow 8D in Fig. 1, whereupon the section 25 will be folded on the outside and along the upper section 24 on the pivoted pin 40, as indicated by the arrow 8 I. Finally, the three folded leg section in a unit will be folded upwardly as indicated by the arrow 82 on the outside and along the right hand rear frame section 32 as indicated in Fig. 4. In a similar manner, the right hand leg 22 may be folded with its three sections together on the outside and along the right hand rear side member 33 as it is also shown in Fig. 4. The folding of these sections in the manner described will be permitted by the slight yielding and resiliency in their pivots permitting the various smaller parts, elements and projections thereof which may come between them to nd or make a small space for them there. The rear brace 45 of the upper sun shade frame will now be released inwardly as indicated by the arrow 33 until it will take up the position shown in Fig. 4, bringing the two side frame members 32 and 33 folded along side one another.

At this stage of the folding, the other two, front, side members 30 and 3| will also be brought along side one another by breaking the brace 34 between them in an inward direction as indicated by the arrow 84 and then they may be folded around their respective pivots 36 and 31 together, as indicated by the arrow 85 in Fig. 4.

Now, the two upper sections 24 and 21 of the respective legs may be turned, with the other leg sections folded therealong back perpendicularly to the respective adjacent side members 32 and 33, as indicated in Fig. 2, whereupon the respective catches or hooks 65 in the pivot and hinge `devices 3B and 39 may be thrown outwardly into their positions indicated in Figs. 6 and 8, thereby releasing the respective upper sections 24 and 21 from the plates 6| in said hinge devices.

Taking the folding of the right hand leg 2|, and referring to Fig. 3, section 24 with the other sections of said leg folded therealong (not shown in said ligure) will not be folded perpendicularly io and underneath of the sun shade member 32 as indicated by the arrows 86 in Figs. 2 and 3, said folding or rocking being done on the hinge 64.

Leg section 24, with the other sections folded therealong will now be rotated around the pin 63 as indicated by the arrow 81 until the same will be in parallelism with and underneath of the member 32.

It will be understood that the same operations will be performed with relation to the left hand leg sections 22, and these operations will cause the leg sections 2| and 22 to hang below thefrespective members 32 and 33 as indicated in Fig. 7.

Now, the folded front sun shade member 3| and 3| are brought closely together and folded down upon the frame member 33, first, the member 3| around its pivot 31, and then, the frame member 30 alongside the member 3| on its pivot 36 as indicated by the arrows 85, in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 6 shows a plan view of the final folded position of my collapsible sun shade and Fig. 7 is a side elevation thereof.

It will be obvious that in such folded position, my device may be easily stored, or it may be transported, like in the back of an automobile, and unfolded and set up at the place where it is desired to use the same.

A small appropriate bag mayalso be provided for it, similar to a golf bag.

It will be understood that the folding of my device on its various hinges and pivots may be done in some other succession of the steps, as for instance, first throwing the hooks 65 out of engagement then folding the leg sections alongside their respective top sections perpendicularly to the respective side frame members 32 and 33, then turning them at an angle inwardly on the hinges 64, whereupon they may be rotated around the pin 63 into their nal positions shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

The front frame members 30 and 3| may be closed on the rst two frame members 32 and 33 in a similar manner, as has been described hereinbefore, and as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the movement being indicated by the arrows 85. The end result of the folding will be the same in each case.

It is also to be understood that I may employ any appropriate specific means well known in this art to further secure the leg sections 24, 25, 26, and 21, 28, 29, respectively, in their extended operative positions, aside from the natural friction between them and in their pivots.

I finally, want to remark that the herein invention is an improvement on my invention for a Portable sun shade device, filed December 24, 1937, Ser. No. 181,502.

What I claim as new, is:

l. In a portable and collapsible sun shade device, having two legs` and a sun shade frame proper adjustably secured on said legs, a pivot device between said frame and each of said legs, two relatively movable elements in said pivot device, the rst element being secured on said frame, the second element being releasably secured to the said leg, yielding means connecting said two elements permitting their relative motion and securing them in their adjusted position, said leg being adapted to be released from said second element, a hinged extension on said second element, a pivot pin on said extension engaging said leg, said leg being adapted to independently rock around said pivot pin and to also rotate with said hinged extension relatively to said second element.

2. In a portable and collapsible sun shade device, having two legs and a sun shade proper adjustably secured on said legs, said legs being formed of pivoted sections adapted to be folded one alongside the other, a brace device betwen the lowermost member and the one thereabove, said brace being formed by two strips of slightly resilient material, pivotedly connected to one another, the upper of said strips of material being pivotedly connected to said upper leg section, the lower end of the lower one of said strips of material, being pivotedly but releasably secured to the lowermost leg section, said lower strip of material having a pin shaped transverse upper extension adapted to engage an aperture in said Vupper strip of material, or to be disengaged therefrom bythe resilient action of the material.

3. A combined hinge and pivot device between two elongated members to be adjustably and yieldingly secured to one another, or to be folded alongsidev one another, comprising a first element secured on the rst one of said members, a second element releasably secured to the second member, resilient yielding means connecting said two elements permitting their relative rotation, and yieldingly securing them in their adjusted position, a hinge extension on said second element, a pivot pin on said hinge extension, said second member being secured on said pin so that when said second member is released from said second element, said member may be independently rocked on said pivot pin, or rotated with said hinged extension, with relation to said first element, sol as to permit a close folding of said second member alongside said first member, in various planes.

' FRANK DEAK. 

